Larva. There must be something in the water where this guy lives because he absolutely takes the game of Starcraft from a competitive game to a spectacular show of entertainment and comedy. Many Afreeca streamers lately have been amping up their live camera moments, but Larva may be the best at it.

Larva isn’t a top 10 player on the scene right now, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t playing well. His most notable result was in the SSL9 where he advanced all the way to the quarterfinals and was matched up against his SK Telecom T1 teammate (P)

Bisu. In an extremely close series, Larva took the best PvZ player in the world all the way to the rubber match. The whole entire series is worth the watch so make time. I even put it below for you!

Bisu vs

Larva
Interview
Game 1 KOR | ENG
+ Show Spoiler [Game 2] +

Game 2 KOR | ENG

+ Show Spoiler [Game 3] +

Game 3 KOR | ENG

+ Show Spoiler [Game 4] +

Game 4 KOR | ENG

+ Show Spoiler [Game 5] +

Game 5 KOR | ENG

I usually make a point of looking at the statistics of a player to show how solid they are in a particular matchup or how strong they are as an overall player. However, Larva’s only matchup over 50% is ZvP and his overall win rate is 44%. So this is clearly not an indicator to how good he really is. Instead I’m going to break down why Larva has had one of the roughest roads of 2014 starting with the first tournament of the year.

41 Starleague Season 1 - http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/41_Starleague_Season_1
In the first tournament of the New Year, during the Ro32 Larva was paired in a group with (T)

Mong and

Modesty. These two easily make the top 10 players of the year and were strong enough to stop Larva from advancing.

9th Sonic Starleague - http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/9th_SonicTV_Starleague
Starting with the ro32 Larva had to defeat (P)

JangBi,

Lazy, and

Cola. This is clearly not the strongest group, but advancing first in it is still quite the achievement. Then in the ro16 Larva is faced against an on fire Mini, a solid form Terran in Piano, and reigning OSL champ Jangbi to advance again out of this group where he falls to Bisu.

2nd LoveTV Starleague - http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/2nd_LoveTV_Starleague
Larva advances once again from the ro32 proving he can compete in the early group stages. He comes up second in a group with (P)

Movie,

Terror, and (T)

Iris. However, in the ro16 he meets the two top zergs in the world, by.hero and killer, where is run is stopped again.

Sbenu All-Stars tournament - http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/Sbenu_All-Stars_Tournament
Starting in the ro16, Larva runs into trouble again as he meets top Zerg (Z)

by.hero, free, and top 3 Terran (T)

HiyA and was eliminated quickly from this tournament.

Larva has had a tough year yes, but he isn’t without medals. 2012 was a great year for Larva as he took silver in the 7th SSL and the 2012 Sinbal Farm Showmatch. Many fans have had their hearts hurt in the past two years. With the waves of BSE (Before Sonic Era) players coming back from retirement/SC2, it has become increasingly difficult for Larva to maintain high results. Nevertheless, it’s now time to present:

Why we love Larva!

Larva breaks a chair

The day when he received 25 000 ballons.
+ Show Spoiler [epic gifs] +

On January 02 2014 17:29 Stratos wrote:
[image loading]

So according to unverified sources Larva accidentaly fell from a 2 store building and is/was in the hospital. He told his chat mods to say it was a car accident cuz he was ashamed.

Anyway let's hope if it ever happened it really was just an accident eh? ._.

Favorite Music: 오늘웃어
Favorite TV Shows: Sea King
Likes: Road Fighting Championships

GeckoXp

Germany2016 Posts

July 30 2014 13:41 GMT

seom

South Africa491 Posts

July 30 2014 14:00 GMT

nice, thanks! my favourite streamer these days. guy is insane

ne4aJIb

Russian Federation3209 Posts

July 30 2014 14:55 GMT

Stratos

Czech Republic6104 Posts

July 30 2014 15:28 GMT

My favorite part about Larva is his egg blogs and other funky play. He doesn't just deliver outside the game, but inside as well - and when he does, it isn't just crazy shit. It works.

amazingxkcd

GRAND OLD AMERICA16375 Posts

July 30 2014 16:27 GMT

Larva has top notch ZvP as always and I learn my ZvP from him!

prech

United States2948 Posts

July 30 2014 19:43 GMT

Great write up, thanks BD -- slight typo in 2nd LoveTV league last sentence "...where his run..."

Very entertaining streams and celebrations, particularly when doing the dragoon dance (with sound effects) in public PC-bang cyber cafes

I like that he streams past replays in the off hours, giving folks a chance to catch up to his previous games.

Cute corgi too

iFU.pauline

France1655 Posts

July 30 2014 20:16 GMT

I love how he handles mech switch.

XenOsky

Chile2284 Posts

July 30 2014 23:48 GMT

that series against Bisu was great, i think he deserves more credit than he gets.

BisuDagger

Bisutopia19298 Posts

August 06 2014 00:17 GMT

#10

Apparently Larva likes the post.

New mini bio comes out tomorrow!

metzninja

New Zealand626 Posts

August 06 2014 00:45 GMT

#11

Hahaha this is fantastic. I've never watched Larva stream but you can bet I will after reading this

TelecoM

United States10682 Posts

August 06 2014 02:59 GMT

#12

Larva is a boss, [S.G] representin!! GoGo larva!! thanks for this

endy

Switzerland8970 Posts

August 06 2014 04:37 GMT

#13

Cool article! He's had a few Terror moments too, although obviously not as stupid, and not involving illegal betting, thanks god.
Do we have a gif of him shoving coins up his nostrils?

edit: forgot it was actually me who took the screenshots, over two years ago, times flies omg

On June 18 2012 14:18 endy wrote:

Show nested quote +

Yes.

Epoxide

Magic Woods9326 Posts

August 06 2014 08:16 GMT

#14

I think his silver in SSL7 is the most impressive.

L3gendary

Canada1470 Posts

August 06 2014 08:25 GMT

#15

On August 06 2014 17:16 Epoxide wrote:
I think his silver in SSL7 is the most impressive.

He didn't have to contend with so many ex-pros back then tho.

-Dustin-

United States718 Posts

August 06 2014 12:04 GMT

#16

Love these mini Bios! I'd say Mong and Larva have most of my stream view time.

Stratos

Czech Republic6104 Posts

August 06 2014 18:06 GMT

#17

Korean hype post for the SBENU Superfight: [image loading]

Apparently they call their "rivalry" 인성록.. In Seong Rok.
"In" I assume comes from Larva's Im Hong Gyu and "Seong" from Yeom Bo Seong.

인성 means character, personality.

Maybe this reflects the fact that Sea and Larva are considered "loud" personas, i.e. not the gentlemen of afreeca like say hero.

Not sure. More likely I'm completely wrong. If someone can clarify that'd be sweet.

Anyway here's one of Larva's better ones:

[image loading]

maybe too much makeup here. .

[image loading]

....

Stratos

Czech Republic6104 Posts

August 06 2014 19:34 GMT

#18

Just learned that he likes to refer to his puppy as "chogoling" and that it barks a lot when it's bored which is annoying.

Pic of him trying to choke it to death:
[image loading]

Thankfully his hands are too tired from all the BW.

Dazed.

Canada3301 Posts

August 06 2014 19:40 GMT

#19

Larvas a great player, but like all of the attention whore korean streamers, I really despise his personality/eccentric crap.

Stratos

Czech Republic6104 Posts

August 06 2014 19:51 GMT

#20

On August 07 2014 04:40 Dazed_Spy wrote:
Larvas a great player, but like all of the attention whore korean streamers, I really despise his personality/eccentric crap.

Hate the game, not the player. Or in other words, blame afreeca viewers rather than the players. If you want to play BW and make some bucks, you can either be top 3 and win prize money or you can do some fun shit here and there and still show great play. Noone is going to be practicing hours and hours every day and take shit from viewers to not make anything out of it at all.